Captain Eli's Best Ear
Captain Eli's Best Ear is a short story written by Frank R. Stockton in the late 19th century. The story follows Captain Eli, a retired sailor who has lost his hearing in one ear due to an accident at sea. Despite this disability, he manages to navigate through life with the help of his "best ear," which is always turned towards people when they speak to him. Throughout the story, we see how Captain Eli's best ear helps him in various situations, from catching a thief to winning over a potential love interest. The story is a humorous and heartwarming tale that highlights the importance of perseverance and adaptability in the face of adversity.
By Frank R. Stockton · First published 1890 · Genre: Children's Literature, Adventure, Humor · 11,962 words
First lines
The little seaside village of Sponkannis lies so quietly upon a protected spot on our Atlantic coast that it makes no more stir in the world than would a pebble which, held between one's finger and thumb, should be dipped below the surface of a millpond and then dropped. About the post-office and the store -- both under the same roof -- the greater number of the houses cluster, as if they had come for their week's groceries, or were waiting for the mail, while toward the west the dwellings become fewer and fewer, until at last the village blends into a long stretch of sandy coast and scrubby pine-woods. Eastward the village ends abruptly at the foot of a windswept bluff, on which no one cares to build.
What this Textopian page supports
Captain Eli's Best Ear is listed on Textopian as a short story by Frank R. Stockton, dated 1890 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Frank R. Stockton
- Date: 1890 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Adventure, Humor, Fantasy, Short Story
- Length: 11,962 words
- Structure: 1 section, 171 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Captain Eli's Best Ear by Frank R. Stockton
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Captain Eli's Best Ear?
- How does this short story by Frank R. Stockton fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Children's Literature first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- Fins Rattles And Wings by Frank R. Stockton
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- Ting A Ling by Frank R. Stockton
- Grimbles And The Gnad by C. J. Dennis
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Genres
- Children's Literature — The story is written for a young audience with simple language and moral lessons.
- Adventure — The plot involves exciting and adventurous elements typical of seafaring tales.
- Humor — The narrative includes humorous situations and character interactions.
- Fantasy — The story contains fantastical elements that are not grounded in reality.
Tags
adventure · fantasy · humor · children's literature · imagination · friendship · whimsy · tales · narrative · creativity · exploration · mystery